Cheeky’s seafood restaurant and raw bar reveals opening date for Grand Central District spot

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Cheeky’s seafood restaurant and raw bar reveals opening date for Grand Central District spot

Tampa native Nate Siegel, the co-founder behind Tampa’s award-winning Willa’s and Willa’s Provisions, has announced an opening date for his new neighborhood seafood restaurant and raw bar in St. Pete.

Cheeky's, Siegel's latest concept inspired by New England oyster bars and Southern fish shacks, will open on Wednesday, May 7th at 2823 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

First announced in 2023, the restaurant will occupy a portion of the building previously home to China Finders, a specialty china shop that closed in 2023 after more than 30 years in business.

“Coming to St. Pete is a dream come true, and opening a new place like Cheeky’s along Central Avenue is so exciting,” Siegel said in a prepared statement. “This is already such a special community, and I’m honored to become a part of it alongside my friends and neighbors at Bandit, Baba, Wild Child, and more.”

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Mediterranean cafe and wine bar Ruya to open in the Grand Central District this summer

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Mediterranean cafe and wine bar Ruya to open in the Grand Central District this summer

A new café and wine bar designed to evoke the laid-back spirit of Morocco, where people sip beverages and socialize throughout the day, is coming to downtown St. Petersburg.

The café, called Ruya (from the Arabic word ru’yah, meaning “vision” or “dream”), will serve coffee, tea, beer, wine, and Moroccan pastries when it opens this summer at 2200 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District.

The space previously housed If I Brewed the World, a microbrewery that closed on March 8.

“It’ll feel like you’re leaving St. Pete for the Mediterranean, but you’re never really leaving,” owner Sarah Aitcadi told St. Pete Rising.

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Catsimatidis to honor in-laws with bronze memorial at 400 Central

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Catsimatidis to honor in-laws with bronze memorial at 400 Central

Just in time for International Sculpture Day on April 26th, New York developer and philanthropist John Catsimatidis Sr. is shining a bronze spotlight on his late in-laws — longtime St. Petersburg residents Albert “Lee” and Jane “Tatiana” Vondersaar.

Catsimatidis and his wife, Margo, have commissioned an eight-foot-tall bronze sculpture, currently in the works, which will stand proudly outside the entrance of the new 46-story Residences at 400 Central in downtown St. Pete.

Local sculptor Mark Aeling, known for his public art across the city, will create the tribute. His past works include First Flight at the St. Pete Pier, Gladiolus at the St. Petersburg Police Headquarters, and the bronze dolphins at Sundial in downtown St. Pete.

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City considers demolishing Rowdies' Al Lang Stadium for envisioned waterfront redevelopment

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City considers demolishing Rowdies' Al Lang Stadium for envisioned waterfront redevelopment

The City of St. Petersburg is exploring the possibility of demolishing Al Lang Stadium—home of the professional soccer team Tampa Bay Rowdies—and replacing it with an amphitheater and a highly activated waterfront park.

On Thursday morning, the St. Petersburg Economic and Workforce Development Committee reviewed initial plans and conceptual renderings for the proposed Center for the Arts District.

The district, located just south of the St. Pete Pier, would stretch from 1st Avenue South to 5th Avenue South and include the Mahaffey Theater, Salvador Dalí Museum, Al Lang Stadium, and the site of the Saturday Morning Market.

Architecture firm ASD | SKY presented the conceptual designs, which reflect a long-term vision for the area. Key components include expanded green space near the Dalí Museum and Mahaffey Theater, a new parking garage with at least 1,100 spaces, a 60,000-square-foot conference center, and 35,000 square feet of new retail space, among other features.

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Popular burger chain Cook Out submits plans for first St. Pete location

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Popular burger chain Cook Out submits plans for first St. Pete location

Cook Out, the Southern fast-food favorite known for its char-grilled burgers and barbecue, is one step closer to opening its first Florida restaurant, located in St. Petersburg.

The North Carolina-based chain has filed plans with the City of St. Pete for an $800,000 buildout at 9595 4th Street North.

The 3,146-square-foot building previously housed a Boston Market, which closed in 2023. It sits across from the Baypoint Commerce Center.

St. Pete Rising first reported Jeremy Reaves, CEO and son of the chain's founder, purchased the property in September 2024 for $2.6 million.

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Fitness retailer Fit2Run to launch new lifestyle concept 6Laps, debut new Central Avenue stores in May

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Fitness retailer Fit2Run to launch new lifestyle concept 6Laps, debut new Central Avenue stores in May

Fit2Run, the beloved Florida-based running retailer, is taking a major step forward in downtown St. Pete. This May, the brand will open two side-by-side retail stores at 801 Central Avenue—an upgraded Fit2Run store and the launch of a brand-new lifestyle concept, 6Laps.

The dual-storefront, spanning a combined 6,643 square feet, represents a new era for the company, which has been serving runners since 2006. Fit2Run will occupy the majority of the space with a 5,143-square-foot location, while 6Laps will take over a smaller, 1,500-square-foot footprint next door.

Though connected by a revolving door, the two stores will operate independently with distinct identities, aesthetics, and product lines.

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Qargo Coffee to open next month, bringing Italian coffee and pastries to the EDGE District

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Qargo Coffee to open next month, bringing Italian coffee and pastries to the EDGE District

Qargo Coffee, a small but rapidly growing coffee company headquartered in Miami, is bringing its Italian coffee and pastries to downtown St. Pete.

The company will open a new 1,200-square-foot café at 924 Central Avenue, located at the base of the 930 Central Flats apartment building. The space was previously home to Indian restaurant Spice Culture Express.

While no opening date has been set, the interior buildout of the café is complete, and employee training has begun.

The concept was first announced on St. Pete Rising in September 2023.

This will be Qargo’s second location in the Tampa Bay region. The company currently operates a kiosk-style café in Tampa's International Plaza and Bay Street mall.

Qargo Coffee uses beans from Lavazza, Italy’s most popular coffee roaster, for its drip coffee, cold brew, and espresso-based drinks.

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Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital to convert St. Pete apartments into patient housing

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Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital to convert St. Pete apartments into patient housing

Thousands of families across the nation travel to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg seeking specialized pediatric medical care from physicians who perform complex surgeries and procedures for critically ill patients suffering from cancer, heart conditions, and other complications.

As a comprehensive pediatric and subspecialty institute, the health system also attracts highly immunocompromised patients who require close monitoring even after discharge.

Thanks to a new $1 million donation from the nonprofit Hogs for the Cause, Johns Hopkins will convert the on-campus Rada Apartments at 460 8th Avenue South—which currently house visiting physicians—into four vibrant housing units for patients requiring extended hospital care and their families.

Hogs for the Cause began as a pig roast among friends in 2009, aiming to raise money for a young boy with pediatric brain cancer.

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Derby Lane sold to new owners who may redevelop the 130-acre property

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Derby Lane sold to new owners who may redevelop the 130-acre property

Spanning 130 acres along Gandy Boulevard, the shuttered Derby Lane greyhound racetrack has a new owner. The St. Pete Kennel Club Inc., which owns the property, has merged with Connecticut-based Rally Acquisition Co.

“The goal is to develop the 130-acre site in a way that benefits the community, while continuing the strong performance of the club’s gaming operations,” said Scott Esterbrook, an attorney representing Rally Acquisition, in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, which first reported the news.

While specific redevelopment plans for the site at 10490 Gandy Boulevard North have not been disclosed, the new ownership recently secured a $58.25 million loan from Broadway Agency Services LLC.

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Five-story expansion planned for Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement in downtown St. Pete

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Five-story expansion planned for Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement in downtown St. Pete

The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, home to the world’s premier collection of art and objects from the American Arts and Crafts movement, is planning an expansion in downtown St. Pete.

The 137,000-square-foot museum at 355 4th Street North will construct a five-story, 11,300-square-foot addition connected to the existing museum, according to plans submitted to the City of St. Petersburg and obtained by St. Pete Rising.

The $10 million expansion, which will serve as added gallery space along the courtyard, has not yet received permit approval, and its design elements are still subject to change.

General contractor Barr & Barr Inc. will build the project, and Tampa-based Alfonso Architects, which also designed the original museum, has been hired to design the expansion.

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